The first round failed to elect the president, what happens now?

Under the decision of the Conference of Speakers a few days ago, it was decided that the Parliament would be due today on May 16th on the first round of voting for the election of head of state. But as confirmed today by all sides, the first round was approved without a name, causing the election to be left for the other four rounds.

This was warned earlier, as the Socialists have confirmed that they would not come up with a name in their first round to give the opposition the opportunity to be part of the process. On the other hand, despite the strong lack of trust between the parties, the DP Parliamentary Group, including allies, have agreed to join the process by giving strong warnings to the Socialists not only to use them to legitimise the process and then elect the president by their votes.

Enkeleed Alibeaj clearly said this last week, stressing that the majority cannot elect with its votes the president because part of the SP Parliamentary Group are also 4-5 deputies backed by Soif Rakipi and Tom Doshi, who have been declared “grata” by the US.

Alibeaj stressed that such a vote would be illegal, while not meeting with the Socialists, unlike Fatmir Mediu, Mesila Doda and Rescue Idrizi. This was confirmed during today. We remember that the opposition last week also deposited a draft with all the requirements and criteria that, according to them, must meet the candidacy for the new head of state.

Tuesday's Conference of Speakers Day at 10:00 a.m. meets the Conference of Speakers to set the second round date for the president. The maximum holding deadline for the session is May 23rd.

What happens now?

While the first round without a name is due Monday, it gives parties time to find the names until the second round, which will put them in the polls. With the passage of the first round without a name, the opposition's chances of putting pressure on the majority for agreement, as in the last two rounds -- the fourth and the fifth -- The SP will be able to vote on the president with 71 votes, while legitimising this even with the fact that they cannot bring the country to the polls again after less than a year and a half after April 2021.

How is the President elected?

The constitution envisions 5 rounds of voting for the election of president of the Republic of Albania. In the first three rounds, the president must be elected by 3/5 of the vote, so 84 votes. According to changes made recently in the Constitution, if, at the end of the three rounds, one person has not yet been elected, then it is passed to the fourth round, where the president must be elected by 71 votes. If in the fourth round one of the remaining candidates in the race does not secure 71 votes, it is passed for a vote in the fifth round, where 71 votes are still needed. If it fails in the fifth round, then the Parliament is distributed and it is transferred to early elections and will be the new majority that will elect the president.